Holidaying with your dog soon? Lucky you! Travelling in the UK (and beyond) accompanied by your number one companion can be lots of fun and a great alternative to leaving them behind with family or a carer. After all, it can be hard being apart. But before you start packing your dogs suitcase (and if you’re anything like me, you always have to do this first) it’s important to make sure you’re as prepared as you can be. Here are our top must haves (and could haves) for your holiday packing list and some considerations before you set up your “out of office”.
First things first, where are you going? If you’re travelling outside the UK, you could be subject to certain rules before, during or after travel. As an example, did you know that many ferry operators require your dog to wear a muzzle while walking around on board? If you’re travelling by ferry, even if it’s a short trip, make sure you check what your individual operator requires from you. We’d always recommend a basket style muzzle for anything longer than a quick vet check up, available here in store and online. There’s a muzzle to fit any breed of dog, including flat faced ones, and we’ve got lots of useful information and top training tips in our blog article.
If travelling by plane, your airline is likely to request an IATA approved pet carrier, and we can source this for you so you don’t have to worry. If your dog is small enough, there is an option to travel with you on board but this isn’t always standard and will be dependent on the airline or journey type. If leaving the UK, you’ll also need to check what vaccinations are required and this can vary from country to country. Your vet is there to help you with travel advice, so be sure to get in touch with them in plenty of time before your travel date.
https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/pets/wellbeing-and-care/taking-pets-abroad-after-brexit
https://www.petspyjamas.com/blog/can-i-take-my-dog-on-the-ferry/
Are you travelling by car? How is your dog travelling? By law, they need to be restrained in some way to ensure the driver is not distracted and that everyone is safe if the vehicle brakes suddenly. If you don’t have a carrier, cage or a boot guard, a seat belt like this is a popular choice. Preferably this should be clipped into a harness to minimise injury by impact. This belt loop from Trixie has safety at the forefront of it’s design. Because it slips over a plugged in seat belt, it offers flexibility and also reacts with the seat belt to any jolts and sudden stops. If you don’t have a harness or a belt loop/seat belt, you can buy the lot here with the Ezydog chest plate harness and belt loop set.
If your dog doesn’t travel well, we’d recommend packing a bottle of this. Did you know that Pet Remedy is all natural and is widely used in vet practices such as in their kennels to help animals relax? In a way, it’s aromatherapy for dogs and can be surprisingly effective. Spray a light mist onto fabrics, like a blanket your dog will be lying on or a bandana like this is also a neat trick. This is the pocket sized bottle so it takes up minimal space in your luggage. If you’re hiring a vehicle that your dog is not familiar with, or you want them to feel more at ease in your holiday rental, look no further.
Talking of which, you want to be prepared for the worst and take care of any cleaning yourself. Simple Solution is an enzymatic spray designed specifically to break down any odours and stains caused by urine, vomit etc… Sorry, I know this is hard to think about, but honestly it pays off to be prepared! If your dog isn’t used to winding country roads or travelling in a motorhome or caravan, you could end up needing it. Oh and if a dog has marked somewhere in your holiday rental, and the owner hasn’t used a proper cleaning spray like this, you’ll soon know about it. We also provide refills in store for £3.99, so you only have to buy the bottle once. And if you’re short of space, try decanting into a smaller spray bottle.
And upset tummies, they can happen too. Don’t set off without a probiotic like this which we sell in store, or this one by Protexin which you’ll recognise if you’ve ever been to the vet for treatment of diarrhoea.
Okay, that’s enough of that… back to the fun stuff! 😀
What kind of walks will you be going on? Is it a coastal holiday with beaches, or will you be in woodland? If the latter, be prepared for bugs, particularly ticks, as they really thrive in this habitat. Don’t forget your tick remover! Outwith your standard tick/flea treatment spot on or tablet, we highly recommend spraying this on your dogs coat before walks. It’s hands down the best repellent we’ve tried and it’s all natural too. For more about ticks, read our blog dedicated to this very subject.
Have you planned some pit stops to break up your journey? Don’t forget to pack a travel water bowl like this one, or a collapsible one like this to take everywhere with you. We also love these from one of our favourite suppliers, Trixie. A combined water bottle and bowl and it can easily fit in your rucksack to keep your dog hydrated anytime, anywhere.
You never know when you might need it, so don’t leave without dog shampoo. To cover all bases and eventualities, Animology Fox Poo cuts through this very particular foul odour (and any other one for that matter) so it heads straight to the top of our list. For those day-to-day whiffs, a dry shampoo like this one might suit your needs. And if it helps you enjoy a pint or two at the local without worrying about that wet dog smell wafting from your table, then it’s well worth bringing along.
Are you camping out? Or caravanning? Chances are your dog will be required to be on lead so do check with the site before you go about their specific rules. We love this stake out accessory, designed for camping. A long line can be used with the stake out and to be honest it’s a good thing to have to hand anyway. If you want to give your dog freedom to run or explore but you still need some management, you can use this like a lasso or even let this trail on the ground behind your dog. Summer usually means picnics, need I say more? My dog Emmy is a nervous girl and a bit of a flight risk, especially if we’re in new places and something scares her. I’ve used these lines for nearly three years so I can personally, full-heartedly recommend it. We use the 5m line daily to feel more confident and in control and I wouldn’t be without it. These ones are really durable and bright, as well as fully waterproof so just need a rinse off after use. (They machine wash at 30c as well, but who wants to be doing any non-essential laundry on holiday? Nobody.)
https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/dog-friendly/
https://www.dogfriendly.co.uk/camping-and-caravanning
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/
Talking of safety, do you have a first aid kit? Please don’t bother with one that’s marketed “for dogs”, I’m afraid you’ll only be spending twice as much money on what is essentially the same as a human one. I have to use this opportunity to give a shout out to our favourite Canine First Aid provider, Rhodes2Safety. If you’ve ever thought about doing a course, you should absolutely do it! You will be surprised how much you get out of it, especially if you sign up to Kerry’s. And these are lifetime skills after all. Not only will she fill you with useful knowledge and tips but she makes it so engaging and will make you laugh, a lot. I’ve done a couple of courses over the years but frankly, no one compares to Kerry.
These days, we also pack a bootie like this in our daytime rucksack, because you never know where you’ll be when you come across something sharp and need to dress a wound and pop this on your dog. Chances are though (as we learned before strictly enforcing this rule), it’ll be the middle of nowhere, when you least expect it, with the daylight fading and the nearest vet a two hours drive away.
You’re right, I’ve moved swiftly into un-fun territory again. It would be utterly lovely if nothing ever went wrong on holiday, wouldn’t it? But if you’re anything like us there’s always something that doesn’t go to plan. All you can really do is your best to ensure you’re as prepared as possible and even more prepared the next time. And frankly that’s as good an excuse as any to unfurl your rucksack and get back on the road again.
Have you got any top travel tips? We’d love to hear them! Email us at info@justdogsshop.co.uk or get in touch via our social media pages.